Structure, dynamics and origin of the phenomenal space
PsyArXiv Preprints October 20, 2026 preprint DOI: osf:dy6wc_v2 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper Qualitative |
|---|---|
| Keywords | Consciousness Phenomenal space Temporal dynamics Cognitive psychology |
| Key points | Proposes a four-claim framework for the phenomenal space: intra-modal dimensions defined by systematic co-variance structure sensory feelings; trans-modal dimensions such as valence or confidence enable cross-modal similarity; the space changes on short timescales through attention and long timescales through expertise; and the space is not pre-constructed but gradually outlined by incoming sensory stimulation. |
Abstract
According to structuralist views of experience, red feels red because it feels closer to pink than to green. A conscious experience corresponds to a point in the phenomenal space, and its qualitative character is determined by the distances between that point and other experiences along the dimensions of the space. In this paper, we propose a new model divided into four claims. 1. The structure of the phenomenal space reflects our sensory feelings, structured along intra-modal dimensions. Intra-modal dimensions are defined by their systematic co-variance, which echoes the definition of a sensory modality as sensorimotor contingencies. 2. Trans-modal dimensions such as valence or confidence explain multisensory interactions and allow similarity evaluation among different modalities. 3. The phenomenal space evolves at two timescales: short-term dynamics are influenced by cognitive factors such as attention, and long-term dynamics occur with the acquisition of expertise (accumulation of experiences along one dimension). 4. There is no pre-constructed space prior to experience, and the incoming sensory stimulations gradually outline the dimensions of the space. Overall, this paper proposes a framework about the structure, dynamics and origin of the phenomenal space.